"You're Just Being Selfish!", A Rant
You're So Selfish!
I see people often told if they don't conform to societal pressures, they are just being selfish. Dare I say that the majority of people with this viewpoint are the far left collectivist types. Within that context it makes perfect sense, since I prioritize personal sovereignty over collectivism. If someone ranks their family's needs above the needs of random strangers, they're just being selfish. If that's the case, I'll wear 'Selfish' as a badge of honor. Family and friends for me rank far and above politics and society. Sorry, not sorry. I will strive to follow the golden rule, but what I will not do, is sacrifice myself or my family for the greater good of society. If you want to fall on swords, please feel free.
Am I 'selfish'?
You're damn right, and as long as the country I live in is free, you're just going to have to deal with it! If that forces me to eventually move somewhere more free, fine. If you want to call refusing to give up my basic human rights, and right to self-determination 'selfish', so be it.
You want an example of what I am talking about? Just go on social media and search for 'selfish'. You'll see all kinds of people trying to shame others for non-conformity. The bottom line is, that if you don't know me from Adam, and are calling me selfish, I'm going to ignore you. That being said, if friends or family referred to me that way, it might be time for some introspection.
Thoughts?
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Guilty as charged.
Interestingly if everyone looked after their own interests actively and vigorously, there would be a lot less need to look out for others.
It's like on the plane. you put on your oxygen mask first before the person's next to you. Because if you don't, you might not be able to help the other person after all.
Other thing is...someone else's "help" for you is likely never gonna be the best help for your needs. Many times our help for others is not really what they needed.
Don't get me wrong, I don't really consider myself selfish, but I know others do ;-) Ironically, being selfish may make you the most able to help others.
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The term is just a dog whistle for non-conformist IMO. And you're right, people should be more empowered to 'selfishly' help those in their immediate circle, rather than the expectation that strangers should do it.
I think selfish is now a modern label for control.
How very objectivist of you! 😉
A scary guy once read my hand. I didn't ask for it. I remember him calling me 'selfish'.
Back then, his remark stung.
This was late 2016, months after I had quit my last job ( burnt out and depressed ).
I had just travelled to the Canary Islands, to recover and produce and direct an indie, shoestring-budget feature film ( that was, unfortunately, never finished ).
Yes, I had left everything and everyone behind, but it was exactly what I needed at that moment.
Nowadays - like you - I would wear my selfishness badge with pride.
We sometimes need to be 'selfish' to become the best versions of us that we can be. If I conform and become uniform, I just melt into a depressing puddle of myself. It won't help anyone.
P.S. Selfish rhymes with shellfish
and I like seafood, as it tastes good ;<)
Well said! Thanks for your comments.
you're welcome!
and happy ( early ) new year!
Well, eventually the natural instincts kicks in simultaneously in everyone and it's double standards to call one another selfish when we would virtually do things ourselves, for ourselves firstly before we even consider others.
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I agree, most of the people first to judge are the most selfish virtue signalers.
The natural belief whether you agree to peer desire is humans will either remain selfish no matter what you did. Whether good or bad, that selfish tag will always remain on humans and so it quite fascinating that one need to deal with it
I agree, humans always act in their own self-interest.